OCTOBER 4, 1946

Full News Archive

• Headline: J.J. Wadsworth Leaves WAA. Impact: When J.J. Wadsworth quit the WAA, a chain reaction was set off that led to the establishment of a secret society of disgruntled bureaucrats plotting to overthrow government coffee breaks. Who knew a caffeine shortage could change history?. Fact: The WAA was actually a front for the World Association of Aficionados – they just really loved their paperwork..
• Headline: Chocolate Concern in New Hands. Impact: In acquiring Willards Chocolate Ltd, the Chocolate Concern inadvertently set off a worldwide cocoa shortage in the '90s, leading to a mass rebellion of chocolate lovers that resulted in the creation of 'Chocoholics Anonymous.'. Fact: Chocolate was once considered so valuable that people used it as currency. So, if you have a bar of chocolate from 1946, you might just be sitting on a small fortune!.
• Headline: The Rise of Investment Companies in 1946. Impact: Eaton & Howard's investment reports were so dry they accidentally inspired a new genre of sleep aids. Future historians will find countless investors snoozing over their portfolios instead of winning big.. Fact: Investment companies have been known to have fewer exciting plots than a soap opera. If you're looking for drama, just stick to daytime TV!.
• Headline: UTILITY REPORTS. Impact: The reports from Washington Gas Light Co caused a spike in home candle sales, leading to a brief resurgence in Victorian-era candle-making techniques. Thank you, utility reports, for bringing back the ambiance!. Fact: Candles were once the primary source of light before someone decided that gas and electricity were a better option. Imagine how many romances were ruined by poor candle placement!.
• Headline: LOS ANGELES HEARS HANNEGAN APPEAL; He Asks Support of Truman 'Success,' Says Republicans 'Obstruct Our Economy' Accuses GOP on Atom Bomb Anti" Voting Charges Made. Impact: Hannegan's fiery appeal against Republicans not only sparked a political rivalry but also inspired a wave of sitcoms in the 50s that depicted the 'quirky' lives of politicians. Thanks to him, we got 'The Office' decades earlier.. Fact: Political rallies were once the hottest social events, akin to modern-day music festivals—minus the music, of course. Just a bunch of yelling and signs!.
• Headline: OPPORTUNITY SHOP GAINS; Beneficiary of Formal Opening of the Wedgwood Room. Impact: The formal opening of the Wedgwood Room at the Opportunity Shop inspired a new trend of thrift store chic, leading to an era where hipsters proudly flaunted their vintage finds as high fashion. Who knew charity could be so trendy?. Fact: Thrift shops were once seen as the last stop before a dumpster dive, but now they are the epicenter of 'fashionable' vintage finds. What a twist!.
• Headline: ELECTRONICS MEN SEE AUTOMATIC ERA; Atomic Power for Industry Is Pictured at Chicago Parley --Aid in Disease Fight Told. Impact: The Chicago parley on atomic power for industry led to the accidental creation of the world's first atomic-powered blender. Smoothies were never the same again, leading to a kitchen revolution!. Fact: Atomic power and smoothies may seem like an odd pairing, but they both promise to change your life—one with nuclear energy and the other with kale!.
• Headline: CANADA SHOWS SURPLUS; First 5 Months of 1946 Yield Gain of $151,000,000. Impact: Canada's financial surplus in 1946 was so impressive it led to a series of international jealousy-fueled competitions over who could produce the most maple syrup. The Great Maple War of 1947 was no joke.. Fact: The only thing sweeter than Canada’s surplus was the syrup they produced. Canada has a surplus of niceness too, but that’s a whole different story!.
• Headline: Heads Group for Yeshiva Drive. Impact: The formation of a group for Yeshiva Drive triggered a series of educational expansions that eventually led to the rise of online learning, which, ironically, now makes everyone question the need for physical campuses at all.. Fact: Yeshiva University’s expansion plans were so ambitious, they could have been the plot of a superhero movie. 'The Rise of Academia'—coming soon to a theater near you!.